Marking email as partially reviewed based on scrolling extent

ABSTRACT

An extent to which a user has reviewed an email is estimated, and a review value is assigned to the email based upon the estimated extent of review. A visual indicator associated with the email is displayed, wherein the appearance of the visual indicator is determined at least by the review value. In an exemplary embodiment, the email contains one or more recipient email addresses, wherein each recipient email address is associated with a recipient review value. In the exemplary embodiment, a visual indicator is displayed corresponding to the recipient review value associated with each recipient email address.

BACKGROUND

In most email systems there are two states for an email in the inbox;unopened (unread) or opened (read). However, these two binary states donot provide any nuance about such issues as the degree to which an emailhas actually been read or scrutinized. For instance, if a new email isopened (or previewed) quickly, the user may have only obtained a vaguenotion of subject, content, other people involved, etc., yet the emailwill be shown to have been opened. This can mislead the user, forexample, by causing them to believe that the email has been reviewedwhen the user reopens his or her inbox at a later time.

Furthermore, users of conventional email systems have access to verylittle information about an email they have sent to one or more usersafter the email is sent. Using “read receipts,” the recipient of such anemail can send a notification to the sender notifying them that theyhave opened the email. However, such a read receipt suffers from similarproblems as those discussed above regarding binary email states, namelythat the sender lacks information about the degree to which the sentemail has been reviewed.

SUMMARY

Embodiments include a method to selectively mark email as partiallyreviewed. An extent to which a user has partially reviewed an email isestimated. Estimating the extent to which the user has partiallyreviewed the email comprises determining an amount of a body of theemail that has been scrolled through, and computing the amount of thebody of the email divided by a length of the body of the email togenerate a review value that represents an estimated portion of theemail that has been partially reviewed. The review value is assigned tothe email. A visual indicator associated with the email is displayed.The appearance of the visual indicator is determined at least by thereview value.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a system for selectivelymarking email as partially reviewed.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a process to selectivelymark email as partially reviewed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing one embodiment for the visual indicator.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)

Processes, systems, and computer readable media to selectively markemail as partially reviewed are described. The following description ispresented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use theinvention and is provided in the context of a patent application and itsrequirements. Various modifications to the preferred embodiments and thegeneric principles and features described herein will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the present invention is notintended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accordedthe widest scope consistent with the principles and features describedherein.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a system for selectivelymarking email as partially reviewed. The system can include a usercomputer 100, an email client 102, a review tool 104, a network 106, anemail server 108, and an email datastore 110. Email can be stored on theemail datastore 110, and can be transferred to the email client 102 whena request is made by the email client 102. The transfer can take placeover the network 106, which can be any conventional wired or wirelessnetwork connection. While the review tool 104 is shown as a component ofthe email client 102 on the user computer 100, this configuration is notrequired. In an exemplary embodiment, the review tool 104 can be locatedon the email server 108. As described below, the system shown in FIG. 1can be used to selectively mark email as partially read, meaning that itcan indicate the degree to which the email has been reviewed withoutbeing limited to binary email states.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a process to selectivelymark email as partially reviewed. An extent to which a user has reviewedan email is estimated (block 200), and a review value is assigned to theemail based upon the estimated extent of review (block 202). The methodof estimation can be any analysis (e.g., based upon a set of rules oralgorithm) of user behavior related to review of the email. The reviewvalue can correspond to a quantitative measure of the estimated extentof review, which can be expressed as a fraction or percentage of a valuecorresponding to a full review of the email. The estimating the extentto which a user has reviewed an email can be based, in an exemplaryembodiment, on user interaction with a preview pane and/or the openemail.

For example, the estimating the extent to which a user has reviewed anemail can include monitoring an open time for the email, and the reviewvalue can be based at least upon the open time divided by apredetermined time period associated with the email. The open time canbe the time period for which the email has been open, or can correspondto the time period for which the email has been visible to the user in apreview pane. The open time can be measured, for example, by the reviewtool 104. In another embodiment, the open time can be obtained by thereview tool 104 by retrieving the time of day that the email is openedfrom the operating system on the user computer 100, or by utilizing atimer function provided by the operating system on the user computer100.

In an alternative embodiment, wherein the email includes a body (e.g.,the lines of text above a signature block) and the body has a length,the estimating the extent to which a user has reviewed an email caninclude determining the amount the user has scrolled the body of theemail, and the review value can be based at least upon the amount theuser has scrolled the body of the email divided by the length of thebody of the email. The amount the user has scrolled the body of theemail can be determined, for example by having the review tool 104monitor the number of lines of text that have appeared in the visiblerange. In such an example, the length of the body of the email can beexpressed as a total number of lines occupied by text and/or bygraphics.

Multiple analyses of user behavior can be used, alone or in combination,to assign a review value to the email. In addition to the above analysesof user behavior, other factors can be used to affect the review valueof the email. In an exemplary embodiment, the email can include an emailtype, and the review value can be based at least upon the email type.The email type can be derived, for example, by the folder that the userelects to have the email sent. For example, if the email is deduced tobe an advertisement, then a reduced period of open time can cause thereview value to indicate that the email has been fully read. Likewise,if the email is deduced to be work-related, then the period of open timecorresponding to a full reading can be increased.

In an exemplary embodiment, wherein the email comprises a sender emailaddress (e.g., the email address in the “from” field), the review valuecan be based upon at least a value associated with the sender emailaddress. Similar to the email type example above, if an email is from asender designated by the user, the period of open time corresponding toa full reading could be increased. For instance, if the sender is a VIP,such as the user's manager, then the email would have to be open longerto be considered completely read. In another embodiment, an email from auser-designated sender could be assigned a review value corresponding toan unread state when it is viewable in a preview pane, regardless of theopen time in the preview pane or the number of lines viewable to theuser.

In another embodiment, the review value can be based upon a valueassociated with a user input. For example, while the user is viewing theemail, the user could manually mark it as being fully reviewed, ifdesired, by using a shortcut key (e.g., Alt+R). This could cause thereview value to be assigned the value corresponding to a full review.Also, for example, the review tool 104 could be configured to mark theemail as fully reviewed (i.e., cause the review value to be assigned thevalue corresponding to a full review) when the user replies to theemail.

A visual indicator associated with the email is displayed, wherein theappearance of the visual indicator is determined at least by the reviewvalue (block 204). The visual indicator can convey the degree to whichthe email has been reviewed, and can take the form, for example, of acolored graphic, or a numerical display of the review value. The visualindicator can be located within the inbox (e.g., in a cell within therow for the email in the inbox table), the preview pane, and/or theopened email. In an exemplary embodiment, the user can choose one ormore locations for the one or more visual locators to appear.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing one embodiment for the visual indicator. Inan exemplary embodiment, the visual indicator 300 can be a coloredgraphic (e.g., an icon, or a shape). In this example, the visualindicator 300 is shown as a circle having colors for the review states,where a blue circle might indicate completely read, a clear or whitecircle might indicate unread, and a half-filled circle might indicatepartially read. The binary states of unreviewed and fully reviewed canbe associated with different colors. Based upon the review value, acolor along the spectrum from unreviewed to fully reviewed can beapplied. For example, if “white” is associated with an unreviewed email,and “red” is associated with a fully reviewed email, then a set of palershades of red or pink along a gradation could be employed to indicatethe degree to which the email has been partially reviewed.

In an exemplary embodiment, a review tool such as the review tool 104could be applied by the user computer 100 not only to emails, but alsoto web links accessed by a web browser, or to documents stored on theuser computer 100.

The visual indicator 300 can dynamically provide the user with thedegree to which the email has been reviewed in some embodiments. Forexample, as the email is open (i.e., is accumulating open time), or asthe user is scrolling through the text of the email, the visualindicator can be updated by the review tool 104 to reflect progresstowards a review value indicating a full review.

If the email is closed when the review value indicates that the emailhas been partially reviewed, the review value for the email can bestored. This can inform the user that the email has been partiallyreviewed in a previous session. The review value for the email can bestored on the user computer 100 and/or on the datastore 110.

In embodiments where the email includes one or more recipient emailaddresses (e.g., email addresses in the “to,” “cc,” and/or “bcc”fields), wherein each recipient email address is associated with arecipient review value, a visual indicator can be displayedcorresponding to the recipient review value associated with eachrecipient email address. In such embodiments, the user can examine anemail he or she has sent or received, and obtain estimates of the degreeto which the email has been reviewed by the recipients. The recipientreview value can be stored, for example, in datastore 110, and can betransferred to the email client 102 upon startup of the email client102, for example. The visual indicator for each recipient email addresscan function as described hereinabove.

In an exemplary embodiment, the ability to view the degree of recipientreview can be configurable (e.g., can be activated or deactivated, orselectively applied to certain email addresses), which can beadvantageous because not all recipients prefer to allow otherindividuals with access to the email to easily know the degree of theirreview. This can provide a useful ‘social computing’ enhancement toexisting email collaboration, and in an exemplary embodiment couldcomplement other data already provided as aspects to email lists, suchas whether the recipients are ‘online’ or not, and their instantmessenger status.

In an example embodiment, the invention is implemented in software,which includes but is not limited to firmware, resident software,microcode, etc. The invention can take the form of a computer programproduct accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable mediumproviding program code for use by or in connection with a computer orany instruction execution system. For the purposes of this description,a computer-usable or computer readable medium can be any apparatus thatcan contain or store the program (“storage medium”), communicate,propagate, or transport the program (“propagation medium”) for use by orin connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, ordevice.

The medium can be an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic,infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus or device) (“storagemedium”) or a propagation medium. Examples of a computer-readablestorage medium include a semiconductor or solid state memory, magnetictape, a removable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk and an optical disk.Current examples of optical disks include compact disk-read only memory(CD-ROM), compact disk-read/write (CD-R/W) and DVD.

A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing programcode will include at least one processor coupled directly or indirectlyto memory elements through a system bus. The memory elements can includelocal memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulkstorage, and cache memories which provide temporary storage of at leastsome program code in order to reduce the number of times code must beretrieved from bulk storage during execution.

Input/output or I/O devices (including but not limited to keyboards,displays, pointing devices, etc.) can be coupled to the system eitherdirectly or through intervening I/O controllers.

Network adapters may also be coupled to the system to enable the dataprocessing system to become coupled to other data processing systems orremote printers or storage devices through intervening private or publicnetworks. Modems, cable modem and Ethernet cards are just a few of thecurrently available types of network adapters.

The present invention is mainly described in terms of particular systemsprovided in particular implementations. However, one of ordinary skillin the art will readily recognize that this method and system willoperate effectively in other implementations. For example, the systems,devices, and networks usable with the present invention can take anumber of different forms. The present invention will also be describedin the context of particular methods having certain steps. However, themethod and system operate effectively for other methods having differentand/or additional steps not inconsistent with the present invention.

A method and system to selectively mark email as partially reviewed hasbeen described. The present invention has been described in accordancewith the embodiments shown, and one of ordinary skill in the art willreadily recognize that there could be variations to the embodiments, andany variations would be within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one ofordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims.

1. A method to selectively mark email as partially reviewed, comprising:estimating an extent to which a user has partially reviewed an email,wherein said estimating the extent to which the user has partiallyreviewed the email comprises, determining an amount of a body of theemail that has been scrolled through, computing the scrolled throughamount of the body of the email divided by a length of the body of theemail to generate a review value that represents an estimated portion ofthe email that has been partially reviewed; assigning the review valueto the email; and displaying a visual indicator associated with theemail, wherein the appearance of the visual indicator is determined atleast by the review value.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the reviewvalue is also based on at least one of a type of the email, a valueassociated with a sender email address of the email, and a valueassociated with a user input.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein thevisual indicator comprise at least one of a colored graphic and anumerical display of the review value.
 4. The method of claim 1 whereinsaid estimating the extent to which a user has reviewed an email is alsobased on user interaction with a preview pane.
 5. The method of claim 1wherein the visual indicator is located within at least one of an inboxand a preview pane.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the email comprisesone or more recipient email addresses, wherein each recipient emailaddress is associated with a recipient review value, further comprisingdisplaying a visual indicator corresponding to the recipient reviewvalue associated with each recipient email address.
 7. A data processingsystem comprising: a processor; a network adapter coupled with theprocessor, the network adapter operable to receive an e-mail fromanother data processing system; and a review tool for selectivelymarking email as partially reviewed, wherein the review tool isconfigured to: estimate an extent to which a user has partially reviewedan email, wherein the review tool configured to estimate the extent towhich the user has partially reviewed the email comprises the reviewtool configured to, determine an amount of a body of the email that hasbeen scrolled through, compute the scrolled through amount of the bodyof the email divided by a length of the body of the email to generate areview value that represents an estimated portion of the email that hasbeen partially reviewed; assign the review value to the email; anddisplay a visual indicator associated with the email, wherein theappearance of the visual indicator is determined at least by the reviewvalue.
 8. The data processing system of claim 7 wherein the review valueis also based on at least one of a type of the email, a value associatedwith a sender email address of the email, and a value associated with auser input.
 9. The data processing system of claim 7 wherein the visualindicator comprise at least one of a colored graphic and a numericaldisplay of the review value.
 10. The data processing system of claim 7wherein the extent to which a user has reviewed an email is also basedon user interaction with a preview pane.
 11. The data processing systemof claim 7 wherein the visual indicator is located within at least oneof an inbox and a preview pane.
 12. The data processing system of claim7 wherein the email comprises one or more recipient email addresses,wherein each recipient email address is associated with a recipientreview value, wherein the review tool is further configured to display avisual indicator corresponding to the recipient review value associatedwith each recipient email address.
 13. The data processing system ofclaim 7 further comprising a computer-readable storage medium havingstored therein a program that embodies the review tool.
 14. A computerprogram product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium containing program instructions for selectively marking email aspartially reviewed, the program instructions configured to: estimate anextent to which a user has partially reviewed an email, wherein theprogram instructions configured to estimate the extent to which the userhas partially reviewed the email comprises the program instructionsconfigured to, determine an amount of a body of the email that has beenscrolled through, compute the scrolled through amount of the body of theemail divided by a length of the body of the email to generate a reviewvalue that represents an estimated portion of the email that has beenpartially reviewed; assign the review value to the email; and display avisual indicator associated with the email, wherein the appearance ofthe visual indicator is determined at least by the review value.
 15. Thecomputer program product of claim 14 wherein the review value is alsobased on at least one of a type of the email, a value associated with asender email address of the email, and a value associated with a userinput.
 16. The computer program product of claim 14 wherein the visualindicator comprise at least one of a colored graphic and a numericaldisplay of the review value.
 17. The computer program product of claim14 wherein the extent to which a user has reviewed an email is alsobased on user interaction with a preview pane.
 18. The computer programproduct of claim 14 wherein the visual indicator is located within atleast one of an inbox and a preview pane.
 19. The computer programproduct of claim 14 wherein the email comprises one or more recipientemail addresses, wherein each recipient email address is associated witha recipient review value, wherein the program instructions are furtherconfigured to display a visual indicator corresponding to the recipientreview value associated with each recipient email address.